Wrench



1,8153 9 Jan. 18,1927. JHH. ELLIS I 6 WRENCH Filed Jan; 29. 1925 gm wing/ 6, W; 744 w Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,615,169 PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE I-I. ELLIS, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

WRENCH.

Application filed January My invention relates to improvements in wrenches of the form in which the jaw opening is of fixed size; jaw members of different size being interchangeable; "the jaw member being adjustable in the angular position relatively to the handle member; the jaw member having a segmental portion that cooperates with a forked portion of the handle member; the periphery of said segmental portion having a set of openings for selective use; a spring plunger being operatively housed in the handle member in a longitudinal opening or bore and cooperating by its free end with said openings; and a radial auxiliary handle being provided on said plunger for manipulating the plunger, particularly in effecting a release of the same from the locking position, and the object of my improvement is to provide for the opposed and cooperating faces of said free end of the plunger and the walls of said openings a conical form and of an angle that is effective in producing an efficient and reliable looking or holding under conditions of use and involving a close fit of the cooperating faces, and, also, to provide a branch circumferential slot that connects with the main slot for the radial handle whereby a rotative or crank movement of the plunger may be made for breaking the hold of the plunger.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wrench.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

My improved wrench comprises a handle member 10 that is essentially in the form of a bar and a jaw member 11 that is operatively connected to said handle member by means of a pivotal connection that comprises the pin 12. The portion of the handle member 10 that receives the pivotal pin 12 is forked, comprising the two side-arms 13 that are separated by the space 14 and in which space the cooperating portion 15 of the jaw member 11 is operatively housed.

Said portion 15 of the jaw member 11 is in the form of a segment that has the peripheral portion 16 provided with a set of inwardly opening and radially directed openings 17. As shown, said segmental portion 15 extends angularly over somewhat 29, 1925. Serial No. 5,475.

more than a semicircle and merges with the relatively thickened jaw portion 18 that has the jaw opening 19.

Thus the jaw member 11 is adapted to be 00 swung on its pin 12.

For locking the jaw member there is pro vided a spring plunger 22.

Said spring plunger 22 is operatively housed in a longitudinal opening or bore 23 at the inner end portion 24 of the handle member 10 and comprises at the free end a finger or tooth 25 that is a close fit with the walls of the openings 17 in the jaw member 11.

The plunger 22 is backed by a spring 27.

For retracting the plunger 22 in opposition to the spring 27 there is provided a radially directed pin 28 that serves as an auxiliary handle and that projects through the side wall of the handle member 10 and is operatively housed in the radial slot 30.

At the inner end of the slot 30 is a branch slot 3O that extends laterally and circumferentially, and in which the pin 28 has free to and fro movement.

The walls of the openings 17 are of conical form and the cooperating tooth 25 is of corresponding form, the openings providing a close fit for the latter and the angle of the conical form is of moderate pitch or inclination so that an effective frictional holding or gripping will be obtained under conditions of use.

The circumferential branch slot 3O permits of effecting a turning movement of the plunger relatively to the jaw member through the medium of the radial pin or handle 28 and thus overcoming and breaking such holding effect of the cooperating faces of the plunger and the walls of the radial openings.

Such holding effect corresponds to that of a cock for water or gas, wherein with a good fit and a proper angle, there is a tendency under pressure to improvethe holdin effect or tighten the parts, which is good for holding but may require a positive and relatively strong power effect or leverage for breaking the holding effect.

I claim as my invention In a wrench having a handle that is pr vided with a forked end and a segmental jaw member mounted for rotation in said end and having a set of openings in the periphery, and having a spring plunger that is operatively housed in a bore in said handle, said plunger having a free end for making selective engagement with said openings, the cooperating walls of said free end of the plunger and said openings being of conical 5 form and of such inclination as to assist in the holding eliect while in engagement, said plunger having a radially directed handle,

JESSE H. ELLIS. 

